I doubt not she now coaxes and courts the old
gentleman at the rate you see, taking this opportunity to discourse with
him and learn something of him.

As we were come near the dining-room, Alexidemus the Milesian, a bastard
son of Thrasybulus the Tyrant, met us. He seemed to be disturbed, and
in an angry tone muttered to himself some words which we could not
distinctly hear; but espying Thales, and recovering himself out of his
disorder, he complained how Periander had put an insufferable affront
upon him. He would not permit me, saith he, to go to sea, though I
earnestly importuned him, but he would press me to dine with him. And
when I came as invited, he assigned me a seat unbecoming my person and
character, Aeolians and islanders and others of inferior rank being
placed above me; whence it is easy to infer how meanly he thinks of
my father, and it is undeniable how this affront put upon me rebounds
disgracefully in my parent's face. Say you so? quoth Thales, are you
afraid lest the place lessen or diminish your honor and worth, as the
Egyptians commonly hold the stars are magnified or lessened according to
their higher or lower place and position? And are you more foolish than
that Spartan who, when the prefect of the music had appointed him to sit
in the lowest seat in the choir, replied, This is prudently done, for
this is the ready way to bring this seat into repute and esteem? It is
a frivolous consideration, where or below whom we sit; and it is a wiser
part to adapt ourselves to the judgment and humor of our right and left
hand man and the rest of the company, that we may approve ourselves
worthy of their friendship, when they find we take no pet at our
host, but are rather pleased to be placed near such good company. And
whosoever is disturbed upon the account of his place seems to be more
angry with his neighbor than with his host, but certainly is very
troublesome and nauseous to both.

These are fine words, and no more, quoth Alexidemus, for I observe you,
the wisest of men, as ambitious as other men; and having said thus, he
passed by us doggedly and trooped off. Thales, seeing us admiring the
insolence of the man, declared he was a fellow naturally of a blockish,
stupid disposition; for when he was a boy, he took a parcel of rich
perfume that was presented to Thrasybulus and poured it into a large
bowl and mixing it with a quantity of wine, drank it off and was ever
hated for it. As Thales was talking